Ol' College Try

Why does college cost so much and who's actually responsible? In this episode of Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and CAP's Director of Education, Peg Keough, take a step back from day-to-day college planning to explore the bigger picture behind skyrocketing college costs. From federal lending and college pricing strategies to consumer behavior and Wall Street, they unpack the forces drivi...

Major federal student loan changes officially took effect on July 1 and the impact could be far bigger than most families realize. In this episode, host Matt Carpenter and CAP's Director of Education, Peg Keough, break down the new Parent PLUS Loan rules, rising federal loan interest rates, and why these changes could leave thousands of families unable to afford the college they've already...

Got questions about paying for college? In this month's Q&A episode, host Matt Carpenter and CAP's Director of Education, Peg Keough, tackle some of the most common questions families are asking right now—from scholarships and financial aid to borrowing strategies and 529 plans. In this episode, we cover: 🎓 The biggest misconception families have about scholarships 💰 Why need-based aid and m...

What happens when your student's college plans take an unexpected turn? In this special parent spotlight episode, host Peg Keough sits down with College Aid Pro parent Michael Dodge to discuss his family's journey through the college admissions and financial aid process. From early dreams of engineering schools like MIT and Georgia Tech to discovering the perfect fit at Kenyon College, Mic...

Should your student take the SAT or ACT? Do test scores still matter? And if a college is test-optional, is it really optional? In this episode, host Matt Carpenter and co-host Peg Keough are joined by College Aid Pro admissions expert Joe Korfmaker to break down everything families need to know about standardized testing in today's admissions landscape. Joe brings experience from both the hig...

What does “financial fit” actually mean? Should your student take the SAT or ACT? Do weighted GPAs really matter? And how do merit scholarships actually work? In this month’s College Admissions Grab Bag episode, host Matt Carpenter and co-host Peg Keough answer real questions submitted by families navigating the college process right now. From financial aid strategy to GPA confusion to choosing co...

Are you planning college visits but not sure where to start? In this episode, host Peg Keough sits down with CAP financial aid expert Jonathan West to break down everything families need to know about college visits — from sophomore year exploratory tours all the way to decision-day campus trips. In this episode, we cover: Why college visits matter (and how they impact demonstrated interest) When...

What if the biggest mistake families make in the college process happens before they even apply? In this episode, Matt sits down with College Aid Pro expert and former USC Director of Financial Aid, JP Schmidt, for an inside look at how colleges really operate—from admissions strategy to financial aid packaging to the business side of higher education. JP shares what he learned working behind the...

In this episode of The Ol' College Try Podcast, host Peg Keough sits down with admissions expert Jenna Schebell to pull back the curtain on what really happens after students submit their college applications. Before diving into the admissions conversation, Peg shares this week’s song pick: Slide by Goo Goo Dolls — the fun, sentimental song she chose for the choreographed mother-son dance at h...

Making your final college decision? You’ve got a number—but do you actually have a plan to pay it? In this episode, Matt and Peg tackle your biggest end-of-month Q&A just days before the May 1 deadline. From 529 strategies to student loans and financial aid, they break down what families should be thinking about right now to avoid costly mistakes. Making your final college decision? You’ve got...

Waitlisted? You’re not alone—and you’re not out of the game… but you’re not in it either. In this episode, Peg is joined by CAP expert Dan “Lasso” Bisig to break down one of the most confusing parts of the college admissions process: the waitlist. What does it actually mean? How do colleges use it? And what should families be doing right now if their student is stuck in limbo? They cover: Why coll...

With the May 1 college decision deadline fast approaching, this episode breaks down exactly what families need to be doing right now to make the smartest possible choice—financially and academically. Matt and Peg dive into real-world strategies for navigating this critical moment, including when (and if) it makes sense to put down multiple deposits, how to handle schools delaying financial aid app...

What if everything you thought you knew about paying for college… was wrong? In this episode of Ol’ College Try , Matt sits down with Dr. Jason Slone—former professor, dean, financial advisor, and now CAP College Affordability Expert—to break down the reality behind college costs and financial aid. Jason shares his unique journey from small-town Ohio to academia, the private sector, and ultimately...

What does it really take to get into college today—and is it worth the cost? In this episode of The Ol’ College Try , Peg Keough sits down with former Stanford student, longtime English teacher, and college essay expert Mark Hernandez to break down the realities of the admissions process. From the myth of “perfect stats” to the truth about how decisions are actually made, Mark shares what he saw f...

In this open Q&A episode of Ol' College Try , Matt and Peg tackle some of the biggest (and most misunderstood) questions families have about paying for college. From Parent PLUS vs. private loans to loan forgiveness for teachers, they break down what really matters when borrowing for college—and how to avoid costly mistakes. They also dig into the reality for middle-class families who feel...

Federal student loans are changing—big time. From the elimination of the SAVE repayment plan to new caps on Parent PLUS loans, these updates could dramatically impact how families pay for college. In this episode, Matt sits down with College Aid Pro expert and Air Force veteran Mike Hunsberger to break down what’s changing, who it affects, and what families should be doing right now to prepare. Wh...

What is it really like to attend one of the most selective colleges in the world? In this episode of Ol' College Try , host Peg Keough sits down with Mark Hernandez —a Stanford graduate, former high school English teacher of 25 years, and now a college essay consultant with a growing social media following. Mark shares his unexpected path to Stanford (including applying just four days before t...

Most families assume colleges look at their current income when determining financial aid. They don’t. In this episode, Matt and Peg break down the “prior-prior year” rule —one of the most important (and misunderstood) concepts in college financial aid. Colleges actually use income from two years earlier , meaning the financial decisions you make today could determine how much aid your student rec...

It’s a true Tale of Two Cities episode—Matt’s digging out from the Blizzard of ’26 in the Northeast while Peggy’s bracing for 80-degree temps in Arizona. After a little Bruce Springsteen love (yes, 10th Avenue Freeze-Out makes an appearance 🎸), they dive into your biggest college planning questions in this month’s Open Grab Bag Q&A. In this episode, Matt and Peggy break down: Why your financi...

What happens when federally funded college access programs, a cutting-edge STEM lab, and one determined high school student collide? 🚀In this special episode of Ol’ College Try, Matt sits down with Valeria Garcia-Lopez of the TRIO/GEAR UP programs at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, Keith Young, CEO of Ecotek Lab, and Carlos — a Class of 2027 student already presenting research at NASA’s John...

Private scholarships can feel overwhelming, confusing, and sometimes too good to be true. So how do families actually use them to lower the cost of college? In this episode of The Ol’ College Try , Peg Keough sits down with Jocelyn Pearson, founder of The Scholarship System, to do a deep dive into the world of private (aka external) scholarships. Jocelyn shares how she personally earned six figure...

In this episode, Peg Keough sits down with fellow Jersey girl and longtime College Aid Pro advocate Lisa Burfeindt , Director of School Counseling for the Cranford Public Schools—and an application reader for UC Berkeley . With decades of experience guiding students and families through the college process, Lisa brings a rare dual perspective: what high school counselors see and what really happen...

College costs feel overwhelming—and this week on Old College Try , Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough open up the grab bag to tackle the real questions families are asking right now. From understanding the difference between FAFSA (federal methodology) and CSS Profile (institutional methodology) , to how rental properties, LLCs, trusts, inheritances, and child support impact financial aid, this episode...

If your child was accepted to college but the financial aid offer doesn’t reflect your real financial situation, you may be able to appeal — and win. In this episode, Matt Carpenter and Peg Keough explain how need-based financial aid appeals work, who should lead the process, and how colleges evaluate income, assets, businesses, and home equity. You’ll hear practical advice, insider insight from f...

Merit scholarships aren’t always final—and a smart appeal can make a real difference. In this episode of The Ol’ College Try , host Peg Keough sits down with Mike Hinderman, Director of Scholarships at the University of Oklahoma (and a CAP financial expert), to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on how merit appeals actually work. Mike breaks down OU’s approach to automatic merit scholarships, what t...